If this was Germany it would be named as what it is Fascism. The rise of fascism

My parents voted Brexit. They voted Johnson. My dad (who is an otherwise intelligent man) reads the Sun and believes whatever it prints as verbatim. I put on a show when I see them, but underneath our relationship died a few years ago. If it wasnt for the fact my kids love their grandparents I would never speak to them again. They and their like have destroyed this country and dragged it down to the level I can't sleep at night through worry about if we will have a roof over our head and food on the table come october.

I can't understand how anyone, let alone the media can defend someone as morally reprehensible as Johnson.

Considering the Daily Mail used to support Oswald Mosley and his BUF; should we really be surprised that they're supporting the Tories? Also, I can't believe I'm saying this, but at least Mosley and his goons flat out admitted they were fascists.

They've gone full Trump. Claiming the fix is in before the process has even started.

Is corruption no longer a crime? The Met seem to be doing about the corrupt PPE contracts even though the High Court ruled that the VIP lane was unlawful! And that on top of doing nothing about Partygate until forced to.

I can't stomach any more of this vile corruption. It scares me beyond belief, and I feel so helpless in the face of this utter madness!

"Tom, you are a complete cult, mate" had me in stitches. Quite possibly my own immature mind filling in the gaps, but, funny none the less.

because corruption makes lots of people rich and they dont want the gravy train to stop

The Daily Mail relationship with the far right, does have a history, going back to Oswald Mosley and the blackshirts, in the 1930s. Dangerous times revisited.

The nation has lost its soul. I was born in 1940 brought up dashing into the Anderson shelter in the middle of the night ,years of rationing yet years of hope as the country adjusted to the loss , the deprivations of the war. The nation bless but not beaten, so full of hope. A nation with a soul. Johnson, the most despicable, the most venal ,the most narcissistic Prime Minister in living memory has ripped that soul out. To me it is incomprehensible that he has been allowed to achieve such a feat. However, 75 million people voted for Trump!

The Daily Mail is one of the tailors.

It is a fact that this UK GOVERNMENT is quite insane 🤦‍♂️

I live in Philly in the States.. the parallels between US and UK, of increasing move toward nationalism / fascism, of trump vs boris, of emotion/propaganda over reason/fact, of identity-based polarization, of xenophobia and return to some glorified homogenous peoples, it's all uncanny. And this most recent bit about the "full card carriers" echoes the far right in US having turned on even pence, fox, etc.

Its likely living in Orwell's 1984, they think if they say the sky is pink with green spots it ceases to be blue, and has always been pink with green spots. And we're all suppose to just accept it. It's mental!

It seems straight out of the GOP playbook if you've been watching the 2 republicans in the Jan 6th committee and what their colleagues say about them. Sadly, where the US goes, we tend to follow...

No, things are actually worse. We're in a post-truth age in so many ways.

James O'Brien is doing what tthe Labour Party aren't!!!

My only disagreement on language is describing "our democracy." Britain is, in reality, an elective dictatorship. Democracy means government by the people and such a system can either be direct or representative. Our system is unrepresentative, and thus undemocratic. We simply have deliberate mismanagement (masquerading as government) by the elite for the benefit of the few.

I think that the fact Boris has just more or less walked off with no consequences is the most infuriating thing yet. He needs jailtime for this mess.

Bravo James, you are completely right and your vigilance is deeply needed on this

I'm Irish. The tragic aspect to all this is that in Ireland (up to around 15 years ago) we would point to Britain as an example of politicians having to resign (or being forced out) when our own Irish politicians were caught in lies, or misconduct, or corruption and they tried to bluff their way out of the consequences. Now the opposite is true. We point to Britain and say that if any of 'this' had happened here, the politician(s) wouldn't be able to survive for very long.

Whenever I encounter someone trying to defend the conduct of the Tories (and Trump, occasionally), I will tell them a left-wing politician like Corbyn did something, use one of Johnson's action as the story and once they have started ranting about how disgusting it is, reveal that Corbyn didn't do that, Johnson did. When then questioned about if they still feel the same way about the deed, they rarely have a decent response.

The British electorate's memory is so short term that they've forgotten the calamities of Johnson and his government

You express my feelings EXACTLY…thank you

Thanks JO'B for another great show. What a state we are in!

60 years involved in politics and I would have laughed at a novel depicting politics in this country as in fact they are today. Overseas press owners control people's minds. Lies and corruption is now the norm. A terrified Labour leader who should be 40 points ahead. Sad, bad times.

James, you're an absolute legend. Never change.

My poor mind. We need a completely different system now, including investigating the MSM

The Mail, Express and Sun are blights on this country.

I have to say I REALLY enjoy watching your show. I’m born and raised in Canada with English & Scottish background. I have no bone in this fight but you Sir,hit the nail right on the head with the Trump comparison. It’s unfortunate that this is the state of our world now. Up is down and right is wrong, everything is backwards. big SIGH🥺

This is an example of the increasingly frequent stories where I find myself wondering if I have lost my mind because the alternative is that people with a lot of power and influence have lost their minds, and that is frightening. It’s frightening because there appears to be no limit to what they will support and try to persuade the public to support it too.

We're in a Global Dark Night of The Soul.

31Blaize .. exactly what I think having followed the politics of the States since Trump came down the elevator in Trump tower. I have a sister in Idaho and one in Utah. One Republican, one Trumplican/MAGA. If people think DJT hasn’t changed politics for life, then they are fools. And yes, you are right to say “Where the US goes, we follow”. Farage and Arron Banks were over there looking and learning. Learning the rhetoric. Learning how to frighten people with lies on immigration etc. Now the so-called GOP are challenging free and fair elections, challenging Congress committees, storming government buildings. Swap MAGA for BREXIT or ERG and you have the British version of the “cult” that is Johnson/Brexit. Frightening.

I'm genuinely surprised that Nadine Dorries removed Boris Johnson's member from her mouth for long enough to pass comment on this!

I am not going to even begin to try to convince you that you are wrong, because you're not. Yet again I agree with every single word you have said. The Daily Main, along with Paul Dacre, ought to be deported to Rwanda. They wouldn't last five minutes there. Nadine Dorries should have been permanently banned from politics the moment she went into I'm A (Non) Celebrity. If anyone in a 'normal' job did the things BJ has done, they would be put on Garden Leave while it was investigated and not allowed to influence either the investigation or the people doing the job they once did. That's what we need here. Boris suspended pending the inquiry. Even if that means Raab has to run the country for a bit. At least that would give him something to do and delay him trying to meddle with human rights.

I am horrified, living in the USA for 40 years how similar UK is to the USA. Horrifying.

The "F" word is right. See Mhairi Black's speech (ignored by the BBC and the rest)

Well said ,it's beyond believe how are they getting away with it .

At this stage I hear the word "cultish" and instinctively think there's an incorrect letter.

The Daily Mail: We represent the people Also The Daily Mail: don't investigate the person who lied to the people

This government including Johnsin disgust me, the media disgust me even more 😤 and always have done since the Hillsburgh disaster ..... but more recently I've stopped watching BBC news or any news 😕 apart from this guy on LBC and perhaps C4 🤔

Democracy left the room the moment Johnson and cronies walked in.

Just imagine in say 50 year's time getting taught this in school, the students will think Harry Potter is real

These newspapers really are THE ENEMY WITHIN!

What a state this country is in after 12 years of Tory misery. Been told it will be a 4 year wait for an NHS dentist.

Sir, you are absolutely correct in your analysis.

As an American, this sounds frighteningly.... American. I hope our friends across the pond are better dealing with it than we are. This period in American history will be a whole book by itself. Well, if we're allowed to write the books.

Our politics has been americanized.

I adore and salute your absolute integrity James . Keep it up . Never bow down .

prison for johnson,he wouldn’t be smirking then,or maybe he would

The other claim is that certain Tory MP's want Boris to resign his seat to avoid the said investigation that would damage the party.

The absolute footballification of politics, in a nutshell. 💩

I feel sorry for the generations after us

It all comes down to one man, Rupert Murdoch.

The Borisbots are out in force in the comments today.

I can remember not long ago when the Daily Heil were heavily critical of Bozo until he started toeing their line on covid restrictions and other things, After that they were praising him at every opportunity. You can only conclude that they came to some agreement that came with many strings attached.

Things are worse than you can possibly say. It will get much worse until people fight back!

im a little bit baffled how carrie johnson can love a man that is so obviously dishonest, but the thought that people at the daily mail, and readers of the daily mail, are showing love for the man, just melts my brain.. its a sick world obviously....

James, you hit the nail on the head but I'm becoming a wee bit concerned about your blood pressure.

Jeremy Corbyn had a policy to broaden media ownership like the Germanic press model

Let's be reasonable - how can Johnson get a fair hearing from MPs who hate liars and crooks???

People got what they voted for.

Nothing like a good James O Brien rant

"Nadine Dorries is the Marjorie Taylor-Greene" = class!

Message from across the pond: Welcome to our nightmare.

if you're not a donor, you're an insurgent

Much like a court case you can avoid it by pleading guilty ...

What worries me even more is that the DM is one of the most popular newspapers in the UK.

Never known somebody so under qualified for Dorries' job. Cannot wait for them to be out

Brilliant analysis of our troubled country, nice work James.

You can’t shame the shameless.

Have to agree, these are some of the most outrageous headlines I think I have ever seen and I have seen plenty over the years. Surely there must be someone at this media that actually understands how foolish these banner headlines are??????????

James is absolutely spot on. It's time we investigated the papers and make the Levison recommendations law!

“This is like 14 year old girls attacking you for not loving Duran Duran enough. Alright, Harry Styles.” would give anything to know what his producer said in his ear 🤣🤣🤣

They are simply following the Trump-Republican playbook; see the Jan. 6th Committee and the Republican attempt to boycott it.

If anything happens to one of these politicians, the Mail will have blood on its hands...

When you ended it with comparing it to the big lie we have over here in the US, I had just been waiting for you to say it. It's so weird how they can get people to just outright deny reality

I’m glad James can see through the looking glass. Because the politicians can not! Keep up the good work.. Plus you allow comments on your content. Some other mainstream media outlets do not!

James O'Brien rocks. I wish we had more like him in the US in media and radio. Which in US is basically controlled by corporations that just put on rightwing host.

I think we the people need to say enough and stand up

That is a brilliant analysis James. So spot on! Thank you so much for speaking such difficult to unravel truths so articulately.

I just can’t like this rant enough …brilliant

I did read somewhere that they no longer have to prove that he inadvertently lied to parliament. So Johnson is bang to rights. Which may explain the pathetic and desperate attempts to block the inevitable conclusion of this committee

Refreshing every time I listen to this man !!

Go on James, say what where all thinking ,brilliant radio.

"Love" as in "I hereby pledge my soul"

Spot on again.

Spot on. You are absolutely right. Just disgraceful.

That poem says it all James .. well said it sums Everything up truly !

Well done for getting through the line complete cult so carefully.

I don't normally agree with O,Brien but he is totally correct when it comes to Johnson. Boris needs to be thoroughly investigated with regards to Covid and related incidents. I would like to hear from the medical staff who treat him during his so called hospital stay.

The bigger problem is the idiots who buy that paper. These are people who believe the paper. That’s the nightmare

What we need to know is this. Is the Queen still happy for the honours system to be used as instruments of abuse corruption of the her subjects. If she is we need to abolish the system ASAP. 😩😩😩

Nodding Doris

There is one difference between the US and UK's positions. In the US, the conservative media like Fox News is working with politicians. The January 6th select committee has shown the text messages between Fox News hosts and people like Mark Meadows (Trump's Chief of Staff at the time). We've also seen reporting that people like Sean Hannity were regularly talking with Trump, coordinating talking points and advising on messaging. In the US their conservative media and conservative Republican party are unified, with the media only ever taking a step back when something impossible to defend has just happened (note that they will return to defend that thing later on, after the groundwork of the defence has been laid for them). In the UK the conservative media have realised that it is them that have the conservative base enthralled. And they are using that power to control the political power. Controlling things from behind the curtains, but publicly if you will. And that worries me. I think the UK is in a worse position. Whilst our conservative cult is less violent, our elected politicians aren't in control. The heads of the Tory party is now the heads of the conservative media.

I've always been an Anglophile, and still am in some ways, but I do feel like the British Tories have lost their moorings and have completely "gone off the deep end."

And yet the Express still publishes articles about the EU collapsing, ... next week as usual

Perfect breakdown james 👌

looking in from the outside its both fascinating and terrifiying to see the UK tearing itself apart by the gaslighting of the masses. It's the ultimate in 'turkeys voting xmas' syndrome